Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08NAIROBI585
2008-02-28 06:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Nairobi
Cable title:  

KENYA'S POLITICAL CRISIS: ODM CALLS OFF

Tags:  PREL PHUM PGOV KDEM KE 
pdf how-to read a cable
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C O N F I D E N T I A L NAIROBI 000585 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2018
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV KDEM KE
SUBJECT: KENYA'S POLITICAL CRISIS: ODM CALLS OFF
NATIONWIDE PROTESTS

REF: NAIROBI 574 AND OTHERS

Classified By: A/Polcouns Kevin Green for reasons 1.4 (b and d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L NAIROBI 000585

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2018
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV KDEM KE
SUBJECT: KENYA'S POLITICAL CRISIS: ODM CALLS OFF
NATIONWIDE PROTESTS

REF: NAIROBI 574 AND OTHERS

Classified By: A/Polcouns Kevin Green for reasons 1.4 (b and d).


1. (U) The opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM)
announced that it was calling off nationwide demonstrations
planned for February 28 to protest the lack of progress in
the negotiations to resolve Kenya's ongoing political crisis.
The announcement was made by ODM leader Raila Odinga after
he emerged from a meeting with lead mediator Kofi Annan.


2. (C) According to Anyang Nyong'o, ODM Secretary General
and one of the lead organizers of the canceled
demonstrations, the decision to call off the demonstrations
was made collectively by the ODM leadership at Annan's
request. Nyong'o stated that the decision was made to keep a
lid on tensions and to give the political negotiations more
time to succeed.


3. (C) COMMENT: This is a welcome decision by ODM
leadership. The planned demonstrations had serious potential
for violence between police and demonstrators, that could
have caused political tensions to escalate significantly.
RANNEBERGER